4-26-2024

 I am so glad that we were able to recognize all of the hard work and dedication that Kim and Evelyn give to our school for Administrative Assistant Day on Wednesday.  I know I speak for everyone when I say Thank You for all that you do.  

Thanks to Colleen for putting together the ABC countdown!  Friday is Crazy Hair Day and Monday is Disney Day!

50 mini lessons for student research

On Monday I will be taking 8th Graders Carlos M and Maggie B to the Illinois Principal Association Student Recognition Breakfast. These two students will be recognized alongside other students from all over DuPage County in 4th, 8th and seniors in high school for being outstanding students.  

I am excited for the Band Trip today to NIU.  Thanks to Morgan Martin for creating this great opportunity for our student musicians.  

 7 ways to promote positive communication with Families.

Dr. Woell has been making his way around to teams to update them on the capital plan and to get everyone's input on upcoming changes.  I appreciate his communication and transparency with this process.  

I am looking forward to seeing the talent show  a week from Friday.  Thanks to Chris and Lynette for working with the students to practice their acts in preparation for the big show. 

Joe, Bill, Carrie and Abby did a great job of hosting a huge track met today with many conference schools participating.  Thanks to Dan for his help organizing the event and to all of the staff that helped supervise and run the events.  Everyone pitching in makes a big difference.  

Dr. Filas did a great job running the district furniture vendor committee meeting on Wednesday.  BMS was well represented.  Next up the committee will hear from three vendors on Tuesday May 7th.  I appreciate staffs willingness to serve the district in this way, giving up their time to benefit all of us. 

20 ideas for exit tickets as an effective way to end your class

 Grade level teams will be giving their final STAR tests soon.  Teachers please encourage your students to really give their best effort on this final test.  

Thanks to Lauren Dunne for heading the Eclipse glasses donation drive so that they can be used again in Latin America.  

Nicole C and Megan D went above and beyond yesterday to help a family with a truancy issue.  I appreciate their willingness to be creative and think outside the box.  

Friday, I will be sending out the articulation schedule for May 3rd along with our assembly schedule for the talent show. 

"Expect everything, I always say, and the unexpected never happens." -- Norton Juster

"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." -- Epictetus

"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

4-19-2024

 Bengals Night was a huge success!  Thanks to Melissa, Sherry, Lynette, April, Morgan, Jen V and Joe for all of their hard work to make this happen. 

 

Thanks to Michelle F and Carrie for their hard work in the bookfair.  Waldo made his way to the register as well!

Mrs. Anderson put on a wonderful Fiesta for the 5th and 8th graders last Friday which also provided us with lunch on Monday and Tuesday of this week!

Joe, Bill, Carie and Abby did a tremendous job of sticking with the track meet this week despite of possible bad weather!  Special thanks to Dan for working with our coaches and the other teams to communicate updates and make it happen.  

Matt Tylk and our girls soccer team pulled out a great victory against Elgin this week!

Thanks to our 8th grade team for their willingness to chaperone the 8th grade kiddos to a Cubs game this Friday!  Although fun, a lot of extra work and responsibility for our staff.

Thanks to 8th grade and 5th grade teams for getting the state science testing done this week.  Keeping students motivated is hard work.  Thanks to Vanessa, Danielle and Angela for being the tech help to fix any problems that came up. 

Morgan had the band director from WCCHS and a bunch of HS students come to band practice this morning.  These kids (many former Bengies) gave up sleeping in to help out our students!   

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." -- Aristotle

"What worries you, masters you." -- John Locke

"When you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it." -- B.F. Skinner

4-12-24

 Frank was honored at the school board meeting on Monday. I know I speak for everyone when I say we all appreciate everything he does to help us everyday!  Thanks Frank!  

Dr. Huenecke, Dr. Salamone, Melissa L, Nicole C, Kerry and myself participated in teacher interviews this week.  I appreciate everyone giving up their time to make our school stronger.

4th grade students and parents had a blast on Wednesday.  I appreciate everyone that pitched in to make the day and night happen,  This includes, Chris, Melissa F, Jen H, Melissa L, April, Danielle, Morgan, Angela, Jessica and Kim G.  Also thanks to Jen V and Joe for being flexible and letting us use the gym during the school day. 

Thanks to Michelle F and Jamie B for helping with IAR make-up testing.  

The Eclipse on Monday was a special shared experience for our Bengals!  Thanks for everyone's flexibility to enable this opportunity for our students.  

Thanks to Nicole for her continued help with student attendance. 

7 strategies to make content stick

strategies to make content stick

I appreciate our spring sports coaches as they have already been dealing with crazy spring weather on top of getting practices and games underway!  

We will continue with testing next week with 8th grade taking the ISA on the 16th, 17th, and 18th and 5th grade testing on the 17th, 18th and 19th.  Thanks to Grega and Vanessa for getting this ready.  

I am looking forward to Bengals Night on Thursday April 18th.  It is a great celebration of the arts and a wonderful school event.  Please remember that it is a mandatory attendance event for all of our certified staff.  

"Our self image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other." -- Maxwell Maltz

So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work. --Peter Drucker

All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed. Sean O'Casey (1880 - 1964

4-5-24

 Thanks to to everyone for preparing your students to take the IAR, which means teaching the students the content they need to know that is aligned to state standards and then motivating them to give their best.  Special thanks to Greg for getting the tests ready and to Vanessa for leading the support team of teachers in the hallways to solve testing problems. 

I appreciate everyone's flexibility when it came down to adjusting 8th period classes for students to have the opportunity to see the 20 year eclipse this Monday.  Thanks to the science teachers for helping me get it quickly organized and to Michele Davis who organized an "Eclipse Playlist" today to be played in-between classes.  Dr. Woell also was able to find us a doctor who donated all of the glasses that we thought we were going to have to buy.  

Speaking of Michele Davis...she was able to organize a fun roleplaying activity with her 6th grade social studies students on feudalism.  I can tell you first hand that they were engaged and learning!

Sherry was able to have another celebration of the spanish culture with her students learning some spanish history and getting to eat a variety of spanish dishes.  I always love the fact that she gets a lot of parent volunteers to come into the classrooms on these days!

If you can make First Friday today I hear their may be an appearance by Matthew Turek.  

Thanks to Michelle F and Carrie L for helping to prepare and work the Bengal Night Book Fair on April 18th.   

On April 10 we will have our 4th grade students over for orientation followed up by a parent night on the same evening.  Thanks to Melissa L for organizing everything and to the 5th grade teachers, Mellissa L and Dr. Salamone for attending the parent night.  

I know the last thing we need is another calendar, but I believe I have finally shared correctly the end of the year calendar which includes major events/activities from now until the last day of school.  If you want something added just tell your team leader.  If you see a mistake then let me know.  

The extra duty sheet for next year will be coming soon!

Thanks to the 5th grade and especially Melissa Falkos for preparing for the Too Good For Drugs program and graduation.  Students and parents enjoyed the ceremony with our police officers and Chase from Paw Patrol (I think)

"Great minds have purposes; others have wishes."

-- Washington Irving

"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." -- Frank A. Clark

"The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more." -- Wilson Mizner